Former Manchester United and France full-back Patrice Evra is set to switch sports to mixed martial arts and will make his debut with a fight in May in Paris, as announced by American promoter the Professional Fighters League [PFL].
“Former captain of ‘Les Bleus’, Evra will fulfill his new dream of competing in an MMA bout,” the PFL said in a statement.
The PFL stated the 43-year-old had been training in combat sports since 2016 with his friend and Paris-based PFL star Cedric Doumbe.
“You guys should know by now, I love this game too! I’ve performed on the world’s biggest stages, won every major trophy in football, but PFL Europe Paris will be an incredibly special night for me,” said Evra, who made 81 appearances for France and played for Manchester United and Juventus.
“I’ve been training alongside the best in the world for years, and they’ll also tell you I’m ready for this.”
The name of his opponent will be announced “shortly”.
On social media, Evra joked about facing former Uruguayan footballer Luis Suarez, who he accused of racially insulting him during a game between Liverpool and Manchester United in 2011. Suarez was banned for eight games.
Evra posted on social media that the PFL “asked who I wanna face. I said: Luis Suarez… He can even bite me.”
The fight has been scheduled on a PFL card, on May 23rd at the Accor Arena in Paris.
